Cocker
The Meaning of "Cocker"
The word "cocker" is an old English term meaning to pamper, coddle, or excessively indulge someone. While it has largely fallen out of modern usage, it appears in older English translations of the Bible, specifically in the book of Sirach (also called Ecclesiasticus). The underlying Greek word is titheneo, which carries the sense of nursing or coddling beyond what is appropriate.
Biblical Usage in Sirach
The term appears in Sirach 30:9, which reads: "Cocker thy child, and he shall make thee afraid." This verse is part of a longer passage on the importance of disciplining children (Sirach 30:1-13). The author, Jesus ben Sirach, offers practical wisdom about the consequences of overly permissive parenting. A child who is pampered and never corrected will grow up to be a source of grief and anxiety to the parent.
This teaching aligns with other wisdom literature in Scripture. Proverbs 13:24 teaches that withholding discipline is a sign of hatred rather than love, while Proverbs 29:15 warns that a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. The book of Proverbs repeatedly emphasizes that loving correction is essential for raising children who walk in wisdom (Proverbs 22:6).
The Biblical Case for Loving Discipline
The warning against cockering a child reflects a consistent biblical principle: genuine love includes correction. Hebrews 12:6-11 draws on this idea at a theological level, explaining that God disciplines those He loves, just as a father disciplines his son. The momentary pain of correction yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
The contrast between indulgence and discipline runs throughout Scripture. Eli the priest failed to restrain his sons Hophni and Phinehas, and the consequences were catastrophic for his entire household (1 Samuel 3:13). David's failure to discipline Adonijah is noted with the pointed observation that David "had never at any time displeased him by asking, 'Why have you done thus and so?'" (1 Kings 1:6).
Wisdom Literature and Parental Responsibility
Sirach's teaching on child-rearing belongs to a rich tradition of wisdom literature that addresses the responsibilities of parents. The goal is not harshness but the formation of character. Proverbs 19:18 urges parents to discipline their children while there is still hope. Ephesians 6:4 balances this by warning fathers not to provoke their children to anger but to bring them up in the instruction of the Lord.
The word "cocker" may be obsolete, but the principle it warns against remains timeless: excessive indulgence that fails to set boundaries ultimately harms rather than helps a child.
Biblical Context
The word "cocker" appears in Sirach 30:9 within a passage on parental discipline (Sirach 30:1-13). The concept connects to extensive wisdom literature in Proverbs about child-rearing and discipline, as well as narrative examples of failed parental correction in 1 Samuel and 1 Kings.
Theological Significance
The warning against cockering children illustrates the biblical principle that genuine love requires correction and discipline. This extends to God's relationship with His people, as Hebrews 12:6 teaches that the Lord disciplines those He loves. Indulgence without boundaries is presented as a failure of love, not an expression of it.
Historical Background
The word "cocker" was common in Middle and Early Modern English, appearing in works by Shakespeare and other writers. Sirach was written around 180 BC by a Jewish wisdom teacher in Jerusalem. The book was widely read in early Christianity and remains canonical in Catholic and Orthodox traditions. Its practical advice on family life reflects the values of Second Temple Judaism.